The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-10
a PURITAN bIscouRsE.
One of the First Sermons Ever
Preached in New England.
Robert cushman's Noble Words to a
Struggling Community.
Correspondence Of the PREss.l ]

Correspondence OF the PREssl
SEARsPoRT, Me-, Jan. 3, 1887.
The discovery in the Sears Library Of
sermon delivered by Robert Cushman in
1921 at Plymouth, affords the entire text Of
the oldest of any of the old New England
sermons now extant. The Pilgrim Fathers
landed in the autumn of 1920. This sermon
was preached some time in 1921 by Cushman
soon after his arrival. 1t was in the dark
time for the struggling colony, and among
the congregation who listened TO the sermon
were the men who have been made famous
through their connection with the trying
scenes of those years; Captain Miles Stan
dish. Governor William Bradford, Gov. Ed
ward Winslow, Gov. Thomas Prince, VIII
liam Brewster, Isaac Allerton, Nathaniel
Morton, John Bradford, John Winslow,
Thomas Cushman, Constant and Thomas
SOuthw0rth. The sermon is very long in
deed, and was intended to instruct the colo
nists In their duties TO each other, by enlarg-
ing on "lhe Sin and Danger of Self Love-"
The text was 1st Corinthians, 10th chapter
and oath verse; LET no man seek his own,
but every man another's wealth" The first
part of the discourse abounds In abundant
references to the Scriptures, and general re-
marks upon the thought Of the text.
with numerous pT0ddlngs at the failings
OF the men of the times. In one case
where the writings Of Paul are referred to,
there is this thrust: sin both Epistles he
Paul very often nippeth them for their
pride, self-loYe, straitness. consciousness,
and Willeth them to examine themselves TO
see whether Christ were In them or not, for
many of them seemed, as In this day. to soar
aloft, and 60 with full sail to Heaven, yet as
men that go In boats set their faces one way
when yet their whole body gOeth apace
another, so there are many which set such
face upon Religion, and have their mouths
full Of great swelling words, as II they would
even blow open the doors OF Heaven-des-
pising Undetermined people, like the Cor
inthians, they carry affectedly their own
glory with them, and seen TO stand Tor the
Glory Of God"
He thinks that 'Men blow the bellows
hard when they have an iron Of their own
heating, dig hard when their own garden Is
planting; but their hands wax feeble, hearts
grow faint, and they become churllsh when
the profit goes wholly to Others" In warn
ing his hearers against pride and conceited-
ness, the preacher Illustrated by this refer
ence to the iniquities of Virginians 1T Is
reported that there are many men gone to
that other plantation in Virginia which,
whilst they lived in England, seemed religi-
Gus; but have lost even the sap Of grace and
edge to all goodness, and have become mere
worldllngs. Among many causes seif-love Is
Coming to the practical application Of his
teachings, the old preacher speaks these
plain words to his Pilgrim audience: "It's
matter Of cOmmendation for a man to remove
himself from a thronged place into wilder
ness to take so long and dangerous journey
to carry the Gospel and humanity among
british heatAen, but there may be many
shows and CLOSES, and yet a pad in the
straw; some men came out of discomfort in
regard to their estates in England, and aim
at great matter here, affecting to be gentle
men, landed men, hoping for offices, teshy
liberty. Let the show lie whatit will the sub
stance is naught, and that bird Of selt-love
which was hatched at home, il he Is not
looked after, will eat out the life Of grace
and goodness, and though men have escaped
the dangers Of the sea, and the cruel mortal
ty that swept away so many Of our loving
friends, yet unless we purge out this self
love worse mischief awaits us.
Near the close of the sermon Is this strong
plea for unselfshness. ''The land is un-
titled, the cities not builded, the cattle not
settled, encompassed with idle people, the
natives cannot in ''comely manner" help
themselves, much less others, friends have
died for want of lodging and other necessary
comforts, and others may follow If not cared
for. Is this time for men to seek them
selves?